Vote Griffis for Supreme Court

I spent several years living in Meridian, grew up in East Mississippi, and consider this area home. So I think it is important for people to go to the polls and select good men and women to serve us in elected office. As a professor, civic responsibility is something I teach my students: research the candidates, make a decision and share that information.

There are many offices and campaigns on the ballot Nov. 8, but the most important one to directly influence us in Mississippi is the Supreme Court. I’ve done my research and and my choice is Judge Kenny Griffis. He has twice the judicial experience of his opponent. As a Meridian native, he understands East Mississippi issues. His parents ran the Masonic Children’s Home so he grew up with 60 other children – all different people but all learning to live by the same rules. That’s a good lesson for a judge.

His judicial record shows respect for victims and law enforcement. (Lauderdale County Sheriff Sollie is endorsing him in a great ad). Kenny respects the Constitution and won’t legislate from the bench. Judges are non-partisan but he leans conservative and has the endorsement of the state Republican Party.

I know Kenny will work hard to bring reforms to judicial campaigns, is dedicated to making courts more accessible and transparent and ensure fairness for everyone who comes before him. I encourage you to do your own research, and I hope you’ll join me in voting for Judge Griffis.

Dean Lamb

Ridgeland

 

Vote Kitchens for Supreme Court

You may have seen the disgusting attack ads against my father, Justice Jim Kitchens. The ads are paid for by Washington corporate interests trying to buy a seat on the Mississippi Supreme Court. They know Jim Kitchens isn’t for sale, so their secret donors are spending over $100,000 a week telling lies about him on TV.

The truth is that the entire Mississippi Supreme Court later agreed with Dad on the Wilson case. In the Jordan case, Dad joined an opinion written by Justice David Chandler, who is now in charge of Mississippi’s foster child system. Neither Dad, nor any of these other Justices, sided with child predators. Instead, they did their job and followed the law.

Dad’s opponent, Judge Kenny Griffis, refuses to condemn the ads. He’s even defended them. But what if the smear campaign was aimed at him? In one of his cases, State v. Campbell, Judge Griffis overturned the conviction of a man who sexually assaulted his foster child. The Supreme Court, including Justice Kitchens, unanimously reversed that decision and reinstated the conviction.

Judge Griffis knows how unfair and hurtful it would be to attack him on TV with the Campbell case, or with any opinion cherry-picked from his voting record. It’s hard to express how hurtful these ads have been for my family. All of my father’s commercials have been positive, including one featuring his grandchildren, who watch TV constantly hoping to see “their” commercial. Instead, they’re seeing nasty ads claiming their granddaddy sides with child predators.

I’m proud that my father, Justice Jim Kitchens, has and will continue to run a clean campaign. You won’t see him running negative ads or defending dark-money groups. He has too much integrity for that.

Dan Kitchens

Crystal Springs

Doesn’t like Trump or Clinton

I do not like Donald Trump nor Hillary Clinton either, but I agree with Thomas Sowell’s syndicated column on The Meridian Star opinion page Oct. 29, “Votes matter to keep president in check.” 

C.D. Herrington

Union, MS 39365

Election letters deadline

EDITOR’S NOTE: Election-related letters to the editor must be received by Thursday so they may be printed no later than the Sunday, Nov. 6 edition of The Meridian Star.